When choosing a nurses’ station design for your medical office, you should stay goal-oriented. A closed in nurse desk may work for an imaging center’s administrative office. For a rehabilitation clinic, a design model that allows staff-patient interaction is more acceptable. Here’s a breakdown of the main types of nurses’ stations to choose from. Likewise, a surgery center requires a main desk that allows for flexibility in functionality.

Nurses station design models

The nurse station is one of the most fundamental- and demanding- points of service in any hospital setting. Before deciding on a specific design, ask yourself the following questions:

• How important is communication between your nursing staff and your patients?
• Do most of your patients fall within a specific age group?
• Do your patients use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, or lifts?
• What level of privacy do your patients prefer?

Here’s a breakdown of the four main types of nurses’ stations to choose from.

Centralized nurse station design

The centralized nursing station is the standard for hospital design. Front and center, this is the command area for your medical staff. From here, you can observe work flow and traffic. The central nurse station also stores patient records, charts, monitors, and other technological data. This is where patients and visitors check in.  Your staff may also use this zone for preparing and storing medicine.

Decentralized nurse substations

The decentralized nursing station is emerging as a popular design model for patient-centric healthcare. Many nurses prefer to do the bulk of their work at the bedside, giving them more one-on-one time with the patient. Modern nursing substations incorporate laptops, smartphones and other portable devices. These can vary in size and functionality, from larger modular units to folding computer desks.

The upshot on nurse station design

The central nursing station is the standard for all busy hospital settings. It’s functional, flexible, and visible. The decision to add a nursing substation depends on the need for privacy, quiet, and localized care. A decentralized nurse increases productivity, patient satisfaction, and safety. This is especially useful for inpatient healthcare facilities and others providing extended patient care.  Senior living centers, rehabilitation clinics, and oncology treatment centers would benefit most. For many medical offices, a combination of both centralized and decentralized nursing stations is the best option. To find out which nurse station is the best fit for your medical facility, speak to our medical construction experts today. Sources: The Importance of Custom Millwork in an Intuitive and Responsive Healthcare Environment: Pt. 2 Designing an effective nurses’ station Nurse Station Design Guide – Dwyer Products Image courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives, Flickr